767
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − {{satellites-stub}} Line 24:
Line 23: − + Line 31:
Line 30: + + + + + + + + Line 68:
Line 75: − +
The Field of Optical Communications (view source)
Revision as of 03:06, 3 May 2016
, 03:06, 3 May 2016→OCSD-2 (A/B): Removed reference to sat to sat communications
What follows is a high level overview of notable milestones in the development of space-based optical communications.
== MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE ==
== MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE ==
==== Open-Loop Optical Lock On ====
==== Open-Loop Optical Lock On ====
After lock on had become routine, LADEE was loaded with predefined instructions to turn on the LLST system. Then when LADEE next came into view, without any RF communication, the LLST system was activated and locked on to the ground.The entire windows was then operated entirely upon optical commands, and RF was never used.
After lock on had become routine, LADEE was loaded with predefined instructions to turn on the LLST system. Then when LADEE next came into view, without any RF communication, the LLST system was activated and locked on to the ground.The entire transmission window was then operated entirely upon optical commands, and RF was never used.
=== The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST) ===
=== The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST) ===
The ground stations for the LLCD project consisted of the primary Lunar Lasercom Ground Terminal (LLGT), and the two backup terminals, the Lunar Lasercom OCTL Terminal (LLOT) and the Lunar Lasercom Optical Ground System (LLOGS).
The ground stations for the LLCD project consisted of the primary Lunar Lasercom Ground Terminal (LLGT), and the two backup terminals, the Lunar Lasercom OCTL Terminal (LLOT) and the Lunar Lasercom Optical Ground System (LLOGS).
==== LLGT ====
The LLGT contained four 15cm 10W transmit telescopes and four 40cm Downlink telescopes. Its downlink telescopes were linked by fiber to an array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. All eight of these telescopes were then contained within an environmentally controlled enclosure. The entire LLGT device was transportable, and was thoroughly tested near MIT Lincoln Labs before being transported to White Sands where it stayed for the tests.
The LLGT contained four 15cm 10W transmit telescopes and four 40cm Downlink telescopes. Its downlink telescopes were linked by fiber to an array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. All eight of these telescopes were then contained within an environmentally controlled enclosure. The entire LLGT device was transportable, and was thoroughly tested near MIT Lincoln Labs before being transported to White Sands where it stayed for the tests.
==== LLOT ====
The LLOT is a 60W transmitter with six uplink apertures. The downlink receiver utilizes a super conducting nanowire photon counting array and exhibits 78Mbits downlink with tracking and uplink acquisition abilities.
==== LLOGS ====
Based upon the earlier OGS, the LLOGS was LLCD's third backup solution. Created with a 1 meter downlink telescope, with 3 outrigger telescopes for uplinking and acquisition, this 60W transmitter and receiver is most similar to SSI's optical communications modules. It uses hardware post processing to downlink at 39Mbs, and a photo-multiplier tube array as its primary sensor.
==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==
==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==
{{:JPL 1U Optical Communications Terminal}}
==NASA Small Satellites Technology Project==
==NASA Small Satellites Technology Project==
====OCSD-2 (A/B)====
====OCSD-2 (A/B)====
OCSD-2 is scheduled for launch during 2016 aboard a currently unidentified Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg AFB. The first such launch is currently scheduled for July. OCSD-2 contains the remaining two of the three planned satellites, which will launch as a single 3U unit and separate into 2 independent satellites. The OCSD-2 A and B payloads will attempt satellite-earth and satellite-satellite communications at speeds in excess of 500 Mbit/s, with the primary purpose of demonstrating technologies for satellites operating in proximity to each other. It is unclear what systems will differ between the OCSD-1 and OCSD-2 payloads.
OCSD-2 is scheduled for launch during 2016 aboard a currently unidentified Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg AFB. The first such launch is currently scheduled for July. OCSD-2 contains the remaining two of the three planned satellites, which will launch as a single 3U unit and separate into 2 independent satellites. The OCSD-2 A and B payloads will attempt satellite-earth communications at speeds in excess of 500 Mbit/s, with the primary purpose of demonstrating technologies for satellites operating in proximity to each other. It is unclear what systems will differ between the OCSD-1 and OCSD-2 payloads.
===Space Optical Communications Using Laser Beam Amplification (SOCLBA)===
===Space Optical Communications Using Laser Beam Amplification (SOCLBA)===